Its foray into autos raised concern about the driver distraction implications of its Terminal mode head unit device, an innovation that is right-on, in theory, but poorly executed.

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Finally, the security gurus took a device popular in the US, and used non-encrypted ethernet communication between the terminal and other peripherals to hack into the payment device and take root control.

ENGADGET: Security experts hack payment terminals to steal credit card info, play games

Wayne County Airport Authority spokesman Scott Wintner later said the device was removed from the north terminal, allowing operations to be restored.

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The companies used an unspecified infrared-equipped Palm device and a Toshiba Libretto, which beamed requests for check authorizations to a point-of-sale terminal, in this case a VeriFone Tranz 330 that was retrofitted with an infrared device from ACTiSYS and a custom cable from CrossCheck.

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But in most cases the device is nothing more than a dumb terminal.

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If a payment terminal could be forced into servitude as a crude handheld gaming device, what else could it be made to do?

ENGADGET: Security experts hack payment terminals to steal credit card info, play games